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United States Patent |
5,017,147
|
Sugiyama
,   et al.
|
May 21, 1991
|
Connectors with cover providing connection sequence control
Abstract
The electric junction box of this invention has a plurality of connector
receiving sockets mounted on its insulating box. Selected one of the
connector receiving sockets, or the first connector receiving socket, is
attached with a locking cover, which is urged by a spring to lie flat over
the adjacent or second connector receiving socket. A first connector can
be assembled onto the first socket but a second connector cannot be
connected to the second socket unless the locking cover is erected and
locked onto the first connector. To rule out the slightest possibility of
erroneous connection sequence, a connection sequence check member is
provided to the second connector. Should the second connector be assembled
onto the mating socket first, prior to the first connector, by erecting
the locking cover, the connection sequence check member abuts against the
back of the locking cover to cause the locking cover to advance in the way
of the first connector, so that the first connector is blocked and cannot
be assembled onto the associated socket, alerting the assembly worker to
the wrong sequence of the connector assembly.
Inventors:
|
Sugiyama; Masaaki (Kosai, JP);
Manabe; Naoki (Kosai, JP)
|
Assignee:
|
Yazaki Corporation (Tokyo, JP)
|
Appl. No.:
|
521942 |
Filed:
|
May 11, 1990 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| May 15, 1989[JP] | 1-054443[U] |
Current U.S. Class: |
439/144; 439/299; 439/372; 439/924.2 |
Intern'l Class: |
H01R 013/44; H01R 013/639 |
Field of Search: |
439/133,142,143,144,299,300,345,347,372,924,355,489
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
3982804 | Sep., 1976 | Marechal | 439/142.
|
4542946 | Sep., 1985 | Snow | 439/924.
|
4767347 | Aug., 1988 | Kamp et al. | 439/133.
|
4867699 | Sep., 1989 | Oda et al. | 439/350.
|
4941839 | Jul., 1990 | Nagasaka | 439/352.
|
Primary Examiner: Abrams; Neil
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Armstrong, Nikaido, Marmelstein, Kubovcik & Murray
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electric junction box comprising:
an insulating box;
a plurality of connector receiving sockets mounted on the insulating box,
said connector receiving sockets including a first socket and a second
socket, each connector receiving socket having a locking means to hold a
mating connector in the connected condition;
a locking cover rotatably mounted to a side wall of said first socket,
which faces said second socket, said locking cover being adapted to cover
said first socket in an erected position and to extend over said second
socket in a fallen position and thereby prevent connection of a mating
connector to said second socket, said locking cover in the erected
position being adapted to hold the corresponding mating connector in the
connected position in said first socket; and
a locking means provided between said first socket and said locking cover
for holding said locking cover in the erected position.
2. An electric junction box as set forth in claim 1, wherein a spring is
installed between the first socket and the locking cover to urge the
locking cover to rotate toward the second socket.
3. An electric junction box as set forth in claim 1, wherein said locking
cover consists of a cover plate for a part of the mating connector and a
support plate for the cover plate, and an erroneous engagement prevention
piece is provided to at least either the locking cover or the mating first
connector.
4. An electric junction box as set forth in claim 1, wherein a connection
sequence checking projection is provided at least either to said locking
cover or to a wall of a second connector inserted in said second socket
which faces the locking cover, so that the engagement between the
connection sequence checking projection and the opposing wall surface
maintains the inclined posture of the locking cover at a specified angle,
thereby making it possible to stop the first connector engaging with said
second socket halfway.
5. An electric junction box as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
connection sequence checking projection is provided either to said locking
cover or to the wall of the second connector inserted in the second socket
which faces the locking cover, and an engagement projection that faces the
connection sequence checking projection is provided to the other
member--the locking cover or the facing wall--so that as these two
projections come into sliding contact with each other, the locking cover
is locked to said second socket.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electric junction box used in
automotive electric wiring and more particularly to an electric junction
box in which one of connector receiving sockets on the insulating box is
provided with a mechanism for doubly locking the connector inserted and
also for preventing a wrong mating connector from being assembled to
enhance safety and reliability in connection.
PRIOR ART
To prevent erroneous connection between the electric junction box and the
wiring harnesses, a structure shown in FIG. 7 has commonly been used. On
an insulating box 1 of the electric junction box A are mounted connector
receiving sockets 2.sub.1, 2.sub.2, 2.sub.3, . . . of different shapes.
The wiring harnesses 3 are terminated at their ends with connectors
4.sub.1, 4.sub.2, 4.sub.3, . . . that have the shapes corresponding to
those of the mating connector receiving sockets to prevent erroneous
engagement between them.
To ensure engagement between the connector receiving sockets and the mating
connectors, the connectors are each provided with a locking arm 5 that has
a projection 6. The connector receiving socket is formed with a retainer
portion 7 that engages with the locking arm 5.
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
With the conventional electric junction box, in confirming the engagement
between the connector receiving socket and the mating connector, one has
to rely on the clicking noise produced when the retainer portion 7 engages
with the locking arm 5 or visually check the locked condition.
However, since the assembly work is manually performed, there is a
possibility that the assembly worker may overlook the half-engaged or
half-locked condition. This kind of assembly failure must never happen on
such wiring systems as an airbag device that will affect the safety of
human life.
In light of the above problems encountered with the conventional junction
boxes, this invention has been accomplished to provide an electric
junction box which has in the connector receiving socket a double locking
mechanism and a mechanism to prevent erroneous engagement with a wrong
mating connector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the above objective, the electric junction box according to this
invention comprises: an insulating box; a plurality of connector receiving
sockets mounted on the insulating box, said connector receiving sockets
including a first socket and a second socket, each connector receiving
socket having a locking means to hold a mating connector in the connected
condition; a locking cover rotatably mounted to a side wall of said first
sockets that faces said second socket, said locking cover being adapted to
hold the mating connector or first connector in the connected condition;
and a locking means provided between said first socket and said locking
cover.
The locking cover for fixing the first connector falls onto the second
socket by its own gravity to prevent a second connector from being
inserted into the second socket. It is preferable that a spring be
installed between the locking cover and the first socket to ensure that
the second connector cannot be assembled onto the second socket unless the
locking cover is erected against the spring force and locked onto the
first socket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an essential portion of the electric
junction box as one embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3A and 3B are side views of the junction box being assembled with
mating connectors;
FIGS. 4A to 4D are side views of the junction box when the connector
assembly order is different from that of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a side view showing the essential portion of the electric
junction box as another embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 6 is a side view showing the essential portion of the electric
junction box as still another embodiment of this invention; and
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the essential portion of a
conventional electric junction box.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Now, the present invention will be described by referring to the
accompanying drawings that illustrate some embodiments.
FIG. 1 shows the perspective view showing the essential portion of the
electric junction box according to this invention; and FIG. 2 shows the
exploded perspective view of the same.
In the drawings, on an insulating box 10 of the electric junction box 8 are
provided a plurality of connector receiving sockets 11.sub.1, 11.sub.2. .
. These connector receiving sockets are formed different in shape and
color from each other. They also are provided with a retainer portion 12
that locks the mating connector attached to the end of the wiring harness.
The construction mentioned so far is similar to that of the conventional
junction box. The features of this invention follow. Any desired connector
receiving socket 11.sub.1 is provided with a rotatable locking cover 16
that faces the adjacent connector receiving socket 11.sub.2. The locking
cover 16, which is intended to lock the mating connector, consists of a
cover plate 17 for the mating connector and a support plate 18 and is
formed in an L shape in cross section.
The support plate 18 has shaft holes 19 at the base end, through which is
inserted a pin shaft 20, both ends of which are supported on bearings 14
of a bearing plate 13 so that the locking cover 16 can be rotated toward
or away from the connector receiving socket 11.sub.1.
A coil spring 21 is wound on the pin shaft 20 with one end of the spring 21
engaged in a spring receiver groove 22 of the support plate 18 and the
other end engaged with the side wall of the connector receiving socket
11.sub.1. Thus, the locking cover 16 in normal condition is urged to
rotate toward and lie flat on the adjacent connector receiving socket
11.sub.2, with the support plate 18 covering the engagement portion
11.sub.2.
The locking cover 16 also has, on each side of the support plate 18,
flexible arms 23 that are each formed with an opening 24. The end walls of
the connector receiving socket 11.sub.1 are provided with claws 15. The
flexible arms 23 and the claws 15 cooperate to form a locking means.
In the insulating box 10 are accommodated wiring boards such as printed
circuit boards and busbar circuit boards, both making up the internal
circuits. Terminals that connect to the wiring boards are installed in the
connector receiving sockets 11.sub.1, 11.sub.2, . . . Their arrangement
may be made in accordance with the conventional configuration and is not
shown.
OPERATION
Referring to FIG. 3A, connectors 25.sub.1 and 25.sub.2 are to mate with the
connector receiving sockets 11.sub.1 and 11.sub.2, respectively. The
locking cover 16 is urged by the coil spring 21 to lie flat on the
adjacent connector receiving socket 11.sub.2, so that the second connector
25.sub.2 cannot be engaged before the connector 25.sub.1 is assembled.
Therefore not only can erroneous engagement of wrong connectors be
prevented but the order of connector assembly can also be checked. Then,
the connector 25.sub.1 is inserted into the connector receiving socket
11.sub.1, and the locking arm 26 and the retainer portion 12 cooperate to
provide a first locking.
Next, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the locking cover 16 is rotated and
erected as indicated by the arrow. The openings 24 of the arm 23 and the
claws 15 engage to lock the cover 16 onto the connector receiving socket
11.sub.1, while at the same time projecting pieces 27, 27 formed at the
upper part of the connector 25.sub.1 are pressed from above by the cover
plate 17. As a result, the connector 25.sub.1 is doubly locked. The
projecting pieces 27 may be omitted as long as the cover plate 17 of the
locking cover 16 encloses a part of the connector 25.sub.1. If the
projecting pieces 27 are formed to match the shape of the cover plate 17
or the support plate 18, it can function as a means to prevent erroneous
engagement between the connector and the connector receiving socket.
Therefore, it is possible to provide the projecting pieces 27 on the cover
side.
When the connector 25.sub.1 is completely engaged with and locked to the
connector receiving socket 11.sub.1 but if the locking cover 16 is not
locked, the cover 16 is urged by the coil spring 21 to lie flat blocking
the insertion of the second connector 25.sub.2. Therefore, when the
connector 25.sub.1 is locked, it is necessarily doubly locked to the
connector receiving socket 11.sub.1. If the coil spring 21 is not
installed, the locking cover 16 falls by its own weight, achieving the
same effect.
In this way, the use of the above-mentioned connector 25.sub.1 and its
associated connector receiving socket 11.sub.1 in such wiring systems as
the airbag device will provide a very safe and reliable electric
connection.
OTHER EMBODIMENTS
The standard procedure for assembling the connectors onto the electric
junction box B consists, as described in FIGS. 3A and 3B, in engaging the
first connector 25.sub.1 with the connector receiving socket 11.sub.1,
locking the locking cover 16 to provide a double locking, and then
engaging the second connector 25.sub.2 with the associated connector
receiving socket 112.
However, there may be a case where, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the second
connector 25.sub.2 is engaged first by erecting the locking cover 16 by
hand. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 4C, the locking cover 16 inclines
toward the second connector 25.sub.2 by the coil spring 21 or by its own
weight, so that the top part of the connector receiving socket 11.sub.1 is
left fully accessible to the connector 25.sub.1. Hence, as shown in FIG.
4D, the connector 25.sub.1 can be inserted after the second connector
25.sub.2.
This assembly procedure, however, is not the standard one and hinders the
correct functioning of the connector checking circuit (not shown), so it
is desired that a means to check wrong connection sequence be provided.
FIG. 5 is a side view showing a still another embodiment of the electric
junction box that has a connection sequence check member. The second
connector 25.sub.2 is provided with a connection sequence check projection
28 on its side facing the locking cover 16. This projection 28 contacts
the support plate 18, causing the locking cover 16 to advance toward the
connector receiving socket 11.sub.1 and to maintain its inclined posture
at a specified inclination angle, so that the cover plate 17 works as a
stopper for the connector 25.sub.1 abutting against the projecting pieces
27 or the locking arms 26.
In this embodiment, when the second connector 25.sub.2 is first engaged,
the connector 25.sub.1 is prevented halfway from engaging with the
connector receiving socket 11.sub.1, automatically checking the wrong
connecting sequence, thus alerting and prompting an assembly worker to
correct the assembly sequence.
While in FIG. 5 the projection 28 as the connection sequence check member
is shown provided on the second connector 25.sub.2 side, it may be
provided on the support plate 18 of the locking cover 16.
FIG. 6 illustrates another junction box improved over the one shown in FIG.
5. A projection 29 facing the projection 28 of the second connector
25.sub.2 is provided to the support plate 18. The projection 29 is an
angle in shape and has a moderate slant surface 29a on the upper side and
a steep slant surface 29b on the lower side. The height h of the apex O of
the projection 29 from the support plate 18 is such that when the
projection 28 contacts the apex O of the projection 29, the openings 24 of
the locking cover 16 engage with the claws 15 of the connector receiving
socket 11.sub.1 to lock the cover 16.
With this embodiment, if the second connector 25.sub.2 is engaged first,
the projection 29 comes into sliding contact with the moderate slant
surface 29a of the projection 29. And when the projection 28 reaches the
apex O, the locking cover 16 is vertically erected and locked to the
connector receiving socket 11.sub.1, thus blocking the connector 25.sub.1
from being inserted afterwards.
The engaged second connector 25.sub.2 can smoothly be pulled out. Because
of the clearance c between the opening 24 and the claw 15, the locking
cover 16 inclines in the direction of arrow when the projection 28 and the
apex O of the projection 29 are in the sliding contact, thus allowing the
second connector to move upward. Then, the locking cover 16 is unlocked
from the connector receiving socket 11.sub.1 before assembling the
connector 25.sub.1 .
The advantages of this invention may be summarized as follows. The junction
box of the invention automatically prevents imperfect engagement between
the connectors and their associated connector receiving sockets or even
eliminates the possibility of the assembly worker forgetting to assemble
them. It also provides a double locking of the connector, thus making safe
and reliable electric connection.
Provision of the projecting piece 27 as an erroneous engagement preventing
member between the connector to be inserted into the connector receiving
socket and the locking cover prevents the wrong connector from being
assembled into the connector receiving socket.
Furthermore, provision of the connection sequence check member (projection
29) to at least either the locking cover or the second connector facing it
can prevent erroneous connector assembly sequence.
Moreover, the projection facing the connection sequence check member
forcibly locks the locking cover to the connector receiving socket as the
second connector is inserted, thereby preventing the wrong sequence of
connector engagement more reliably.
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